One category of technology users who are significantly at risk from malicious campaigns are travelers. As long as they move from one place to another without using secure and private connections, the protection of personal data and their online accounts are threatened. As traffic increases during the holiday season, the ESET gathered basic instructions for travelers to protect their personal information, accounts and devices.
1. Restrict third-party access to your devices. Always use
complex PINs and passwords for all your electronic devices. If possible, install a security solution that allows you to remotely manage your device and, in the event of theft or loss, remotely lock or disable it. Also try to encrypt storage drives such as external or hard drives diskand use USB Shield, especially if you have lent the storage drive to other people. Care should also be taken with USB charging stations, which you can usually find in airports and other public places.
2. Protect your data. Η connection into a public networks carries risks, so it is recommended to use a VPN service in the first place, which can increase the level of security when transferring data, even if there are unreliable connections. After logging out, delete the networks you were connected to. Don't forget to update your operating systems and apps and remember to turn it off Bluetooth και το WiFi των συσκευών σας αν δεν τα usesth. End, be careful when creating staff WiFi Hotspot with your mobile phone, use secure passwords and turn it off when you are no longer using it.
3. Strengthen control identity of your online accounts. Η activation -της πιστοποίησης δύο factors (2FA) μπορεί να εμποδίσει επίδοξους εισβολείς από το να παραβιάσουν το λογαριασμό σας, οπότε φροντίστε να χρησιμοποιείτε πάντα αυτή τη λειτουργία. Ελέγχετε τακτικά αν υπάρχουν ασυνήθιστες κινήσεις στους λογαριασμούς σας τόσο στις τράπεζες όσο και στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης και να είστε σε εγρήγορση για ειδοποιήσεις ασφαλείας. Μη διστάσετε να αλλάξετε τα διαπιστευτήρια σύνδεσης αν υποψιαστείτε ότι έχουν παραβιαστεί οι λογαριασμοί σας, δημιουργώντας ισχυρούς και μοναδικούς κωδικούς πρόσβασης με τη βοήθεια κάποιου ειδικού εργαλείου, Password Manager.
4. Protect your privacy, both before and during your trip. In many public networks Wi-Fi are requested privacy to allow the connection, e.g. one Email or even create a special account. The general rule is not to share your real data and to keep a separate account with an email address specifically for these situations. Also check the privacy policy regarding data usage. Be careful with the information you post on social media as it can be used for maliciouspurposes. When cybercriminals know where you are at all times, they can use the information to contact your family to claim kidnapping or break into your home while it's empty. Posting photos of airline tickets, where all the information and barcodes are visible, is also a very dangerous practice.
5. Protect your online shopping. Prefer ticket purchases and hotel reservations to be made by credit instead of debit card, because if your credit card is stolen, it's much easier to report the incident and rectify the situation than with a debit card, plus you don't run the risk of finding yourself halfway through your trip with an empty bank account. Be careful when withdrawing money from an ATM and make sure there are no easily detached parts on the card reader strips where you insert your bank card. If your card has a chip RFID, you can protect it with the special cover that blocks the signal.
6. Beware of scams especially for travelers. Travelers are a common target for scams with tempting travel deals, which are emailed or displayed in social media updates. To find out if these are bids, make sure the link you click on leads to a genuine site. If you need to send confidential information, make sure the connection is encrypted with HTTPS. Use other channels (phone or communication via verified social media profiles) to contact the provider, which is supposed to have prepared the offer, and verify that it is genuine. Lastly, always use a strong security solution, which can detect malware attempts on your computer.